Rotary pump

ABSTRACT

The drive shaft is connected to a ported rotor plate which, in turn, has a driving connection to an impeller which oscillates as it is rotated. The rotor plate also drives a rotor body which has a semi-spherical inner surface complementary to a semi-spherical surface on the impeller. A roller assembly on the back side of the impeller engages a flat cam surface to effect the oscillation of the impeller and cause the pumping action. Restricted passageways interconnect the front and back sides of the impeller.

United States Patent Wehr, deceased etal. 1 1 July 1, 1975 [541 ROTARY PUMP 5,018,605 12/1332 Eempttorne 2 13/28 ,0 ,178 l t 8 [75] Inventors: Robert D. Wehr, deceased, late of 2949355 8/!936 zfi fii i 418,63 Tarpon Springs, -z Elsie 2,489,041 11/1949 Manseau 418/49 D sh y Wehr, x cumx, Tarpon 2,559,255 7/1951 Manseau 413/49 Springs, Fla. 2,621,852 12/1952 Pisa 1 1 1. 4115/68 3,702,602 11 1972 Lo t 418 68 [73] Assignee: Elsie Deshely Wehr, Tarpon Springs, I 0 I a Primary Examiner-C. .1. Husar [22] Filed: Jan. 3, 1974 The drive shaft is connected to a ported rotor plate [52] 418/68 418/49 ug 9 which, in turn, has a driving connection to an impeller I C 2 MC 9/00 which oscillates as it is rotated. The rotor plate also [SI] i "418/49 52 drives a rotor body which has a semi-spherical inner [581 Fla 0 care 102 1 surface complementary to a semi-spherical surface on the impeller. A roller assembly on the back side of the impeller engages a flat cam surface to effect the oscil- [56] Rekrences cued lation of the impeller and cause the pumping action. UNITED STATES PATENTS Restricted passageways interconnect the front and 1,890,612 12/1932 Kempthorne 11 418/68 back sides of the impeller. 1,904,374 4/1933 Kempthorne 1 v 418/68 1,992,374 2/1935 Kempthorne H 418/83 17 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures e2 cyraz 75 54 ?.42

I 1 \e 1 r1 l :II-I\\'J" I l w i J/l l L i 11 11 a ROTARY PUMP BAC KGROUN D The invention pertains generally to rotary expansible chamber devices of the type having a rotating internal member which rotates and oscillates or reciprocates.

Rotary expansible chamber devices are useful as pumps, compressors, and engines. Some typical examples of prior art devices are shown in US. Pat. No. l78,349 issued June 6. 1876 to C. A. Tower; US. Pat. No. [992,374 issued Feb. 26, 1935 to I. I... Kempthorne; and US. Pat. No. 2,559,255 issued July 3,1951 to D. O. Manseau. The Kempthorne patent is of the type that utilizes a segmental rotor in a semi-spherical chamber of a casing. and the rotor having a driving connection with a shaft. The connection, however, is in the form of a slot to accommodate the oscillation of the rotor.

SUMMARY The present invention relates to improvement in rotary pumps or rotary expansible chamber devices and more particularly to such apparatus having a rotating and oscillating internal member.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a rotary expansible chamber device having a rotating and oscillating internal member and which device has few parts, can be economically manufactured. and can be easily and quickly assembled or diassembled.

Another object is to provide a device in accordance with the above object and having means on the internal member and housing to effect the oscillating motion as the internal member is rotated.

Still another object is to provide a device in accor dance with the foregoing object in which the oscillating motion is effected by cooperation between a cam and a roller.

Another object is to provide a device in accordance with the general object and which has passageways extending through the internal member or impeller.

Yet another object is to provide a device in accordance with the general object in which the internal member has an arcuate outer surface engaged with a complementary internal surface of the device.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device in accordance with the foregoing object in which the complementary internal surface is provided on a motor body which rotates with the internal member.

A further object is to provide a pump in accordance with either of the last two objects in which one of the complementary surfaces has a groove therein to allow the fluid being pumped to lubricate the interface.

These, and other objects and advantages of the present invention. will become apparent as the same becomes better understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DRAWINGS:

FIG. I is a longitudinal vertical sectional view ofa device embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Hg. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

DESCRIPTION:

Reference is now made more particularly to the drawings which illustrate the best presently known mode of carrying out the invention and wherein similar reference characters indicate the same parts throughout the several views.

The illustrated embodiment of the present invention is in the form ofa pump having a housing 10 with feet 12, and a removable back plate 11. The housing has an inlet port 14 which leads to an inlet chamber 15 and, diametrically opposite, an outlet port 16 communicat ing with an outlet chamber 17. A drive shaft 22 is mounted in a nylon bearing 24 and extends out of the housing 10. The drive shaft is rotated in a clockwise di rection with the port arrangement as described above.

Mounted in the housing 10 and arranged to be driven by the drive shaft 22 are a rotor plate 32, a rotor body 34, and an internal member or impeller 36. The rotor plate 32 has a drill hole at the front end thereof to receive the drive shaft 22 and is keyed to the drive shaft by means of pin 37. As best seen in FIG. 2, the rotor plate 32 has a pair of moon-shaped openings 42 and 43 which alternately communicate with inlet and outlet chambers l5 and 17 as the rotor plate is rotated. At the back side of the rotor plate is a transversely extending key 44 which drives the impeller 36 and provides a transverse seal thereagainst intermediate the ports 42 and 43.

The rotor body 34 is secured to the rotor plate 32 for rotation therewith. The rotor body has a concave chamber in which the impeller 36 is disposed. In the embodiment illustrated. the inner surface of the chamber is semi-spherically shaped and mates with a simi larly shaped outer surface of the impeller.

The impeller 36 has a transverselyextending, arcuate groove 52 to receive the aforedescribed key 44. Converging toward the groove 52 are flate faces 54 and 56 which alternately move toward and away from the rotor plate in a manner hereafter described. to provide the pumping action.

Cooperative means is provided at the rear of the impeller to effect oscillating movement of the impeller 36 as it is rotated. In the embodiment illustrated, the cooperating means is provided by a roller assembly, generally designated 60 and a stationary cam 62. The cam 62 is formed integrally with the back plate 11 and has a flat front face 64 which is oblique to a plane perpendicular to the axis of the drive shaft 22. The roller assembly 60 is mounted in a recess at the rear of the impeller 36 and includes a pair of rollers 66 rotatably mounted on an axle 67 and conveniently separated by a spacer 68. It is deemed obvious that the roller assembly 60 and cam 62 could be reversed in their arrangement, if de sired.

It is now deemed apparent that when the drive shaft 22 is rotated, the rotor plate 32, rotor body 34, and impeller 36 are simultaneously rotated therewith. The rotation causes the ports 42 and 43 in the rotor plate to alternately communicate with the inlet and outlet chambers I5 and 17. During rotation, the roller assembly 60 and cam 62 provide an oscillating motion to the impeller 36. This causes the front faces 54 and 56 to alternately move toward and away from the rotor plate and provide the pumping action. It can be said that the oscillating movement of the impeller provides expansi ble chambers between the faces 54, 56 and the rotor plate 32.

In the embodiment illustrated. the back plate II is spaced from the rear side of the rotor body 34 to provide a chamber portion 72 rearwardly of the impeller 36. Restricted passageways 74 and 76 extend through the faces 54 and 56, respectively, to communicate the expansible chambers with the rear chamber 72. These restricted passageways allow a limited amount of the fluid being pumped to flow to and from the back chamber 72. This tends to equalize the pressure on the back side of the impeller 36 and allows the impeller to more readily slide on the rotor body 34. It also prevents unnecessary compressing of the fluid being pumped and thereby eliminates unnecessary pulsations during the operation. An inlet port 78 (see FIG. 1) is advantageously provided in the back plate 11 to allow an internal quantity of fluid to be directly supplied to the back chamber 72, if desired.

A pair of grooves 82 are provided in the semispherical surface of the impeller 36. as shown in HO. 1. This allows the fluid being pumped to flow through these grooves and thereby lubricate the interface between the impeller 36 and the rotor body 34.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has herein been illustrated and described, this has been done by way of illustration and not limitation, and the invention should not be limited except as required by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A rotary pump comprising a housing having inlet and outlet ports and a chamber having an inner surface at least a portion of which has an arcuate crosssectional shape; a drive shaft extending out of the hous ing; a rotor plate fixed to the drive shaft for rotation therewith and having ports which alternately communicate with the inlet and outlet ports in the housing; the arcuate cross-sectional shaped inner surface of the chamber being formed by a rotor body in the chamber and mounted for rotation with the rotor plate; an impeller in said chamber and having a rear side which is shaped complementary to the arcuate surface of the chamber; said impeller having a front side adjacent the rotor plate and having a driving connection therewith; said front side of the impeller having two faces which diverge away from the driving connection; cooperating means at the rear of the impeller to effect an oscillating movement of the impeller as it is rotated thereby mov ing said faces alternately toward and away from the rotor plate to provide a pumping action; and a portion of said cooperating means being on the impeller and another portion being on the housing.

2. A rotary pump as set forth in claim 1 wherein one portion of the cooperating means is a flat cam face which is inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to the drive shaft axis.

3. A rotary pump as set forth in claim 2 wherein the other portion of the cooperating means is a roller assembly engaged with and arranged to roll on the cam face.

4. A rotary pump as set forth in claim 3 wherein the roller assembly is mounted on the impeller for rotation therewith, and the cam face is stationary and on the housing.

5. A rotary pump as set forth in claim 1 in which one of the surfaces between the chamber and impeller has a groove therein to allow the fluid being pumped to lubricate said surfaces.

6. A rotary pump as set forth in claim in which the chamber has a rear portion rearwardly of the rotor body, and the impeller has at least two passageways therethrough communicating the rear portion of the chamber with the front of the impeller.

7. A rotary pump as set forth in claim 6 including a primming inlet communicating with the rear portion of the chamber and through which the pump is primed.

8. A rotary pump as set forth in claim 7 wherein one portion of the cooperating means is a flat cam face inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to the drive shaft axis and the other portion of the cooperating means is a roller assembly engaged with the arranged to roll on the cam face; wherein the rotor body and impeller have complementary semi-spherically shaped surfaces; and wherein one of the surfaces between the chamber and impeller has a groove therein to allow fluid being pumped to lubricate said surfaces.

9. A pump comprising a housing having inlet and outlet ports and a chamber therein; a rotatable rotor plate at the front end of the chamber and having ports for alternately communicating with the inlet and outlet ports in the housing; a drive shaft coaxial with the rotor plate and having a driving connection therewith; an impeller member of segmental shape having converging flat faces on opposite sides of a diametrical line which intersects the axis of the drive shaft; means at said diametrical line to provide a driving connection between said members and to seal the interface therebetween; means on the side of said impeller opposite from the driving connection to cause the impeller to oscillate as it is rotated thereby moving the front face alternately toward and away from the rotor plate to provide a pumping action; said opposite side of the impeller having a generally semi-spherical shape over at least a portion of its surface; means providing a complementary semi-spherical surface in the chamber and comprising a rotor body having a driving connection to the rotor plate; the chamber having a rear portion rearwardly of the rotor body; and the impeller having at least two passageways therethrough communicating the rear portion of the chamber with the front of the impeller.

10. The combination of claim 9 in which the semispherical surface of the impeller has a groove therein to allow the fluid being pumped to lubricate said com plementary surfaces.

11. The combination of claim 10 in which the means to cause the impeller to oscillate includes a cam.

12. The combination of claim 11 in which the means to cause the impeller to oscillate also includes a roller engaged with the cam.

13. ln a rotary expansible chamber device of the type having a housing and a rotating working member in the housing which both rotates and oscillates, and the housing having inlet and outlet ports, the improvement comprising: a ported rotor plate between the working member and housing and against which the working member oscillates; means providing a driving connection between the working member and rotor plate so that both rotate simultaneously; a drive shaft connected to the rotor plate to rotate the same and communicate the rotor plate ports alternately with the inlet and outlet ports in the housing; and means in the housing at the side of the working member opposite the rotor plate to effect said oscillating movement of the working member as it is rotated and including one portion on the housing and another portion on the working member, one of the portions comprising a flat cam face inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to the drive shaft axis. and the other portion comprising a roller engaged with and arranged to roll on the cam face.

14. In a rotary expansible chamber device of the type including a housing having inlet and outlet ports and a chamber therein. and a rotating working member in the chamber which both rotates and oscillates; characterized by the working member having a semi-spherical surface; the housing having an inner surface comple' mentary to the semi-spherical surface of the working member; the housing chamber providing an expansible portion at one side of the working member and another portion at the opposite side thereof; and the working member having a relatively small passageway therethrough and interconnecting said two chamber portions to provide a restricted flow between the two chamber portions.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 in which one of the semi-spherical surfaces has a groove therein to allow the fluid in the chamber to reach the interface between the working member and the housing.

16. A rotary pump comprising a housing having inlet and outlet ports and a chamber having an inner surface at least a portion of which has an arcuate crosssectional shape; a drive shaft extending out of the housing; a rotor plate fixed to the drive shaft for rotation therewith and having ports which alternately communicate with the inlet and outlet ports in the housing; an impeller in said chamber and having a rear side which is shaped complementary to the arcuate surface of the chamber; said impeller having a front side adjacent the rotor plate and having a driving connection therewith; said front side of the impeller having two faces which diverge away from the driving connection; cooperating means at the rear of the impeller to effect an oscillating movement of the impeller as it is rotated thereby moving said faces alternately toward and away from the rotor plate to provide a pumping action; a portion of said cooperating means being on the impeller and another portion being on the housing; one of said portions being a flat cam face which is inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to the drive shaft axis; and the other of said portions being a roller assembly engaged with and arranged to roll on the cam face.

17. A rotary pump as set forth in claim 1 wherein the roller assembly is mounted on the impeller for rotation therewtih, and the cam face is stationary and on the housing. 

1. A rotary pump comprising a housing having inlet and outlet ports and a chamber having an inner surface at least a portion of which has an arcuate cross-sectional shape; a drive shaft extending out of the housing; a rotor plate fixed to the drive shaft for rotation therewith and having ports which alternately communicate with the inlet and outlet ports in the housing; the arcuate cross-sectional shaped inner surface of the chamber being formed by a rotor body in the chamber and mounted for rotation with the rotor plate; an impeller in said chamber and having a rear side which is shaped complementary to the arcuate surface of the chamber; said impeller having a front side adjacent the rotor plate and having a driving connection therewith; said front side of the impeller having two faces which diverge away from the driving connection; cooperating means at the rear of the impeller to effect an oscillating movement of the impeller as it is rotated thereby moving said faces alternately toward and away from the rotor plate to provide a pumping action; and a portion of said cooperating means being on the impeller and another portion being on the housing.
 2. A rotary pump as set forth in claim 1 wherein one portion of the cooperating means is a flat cam face which is inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to the drive shaft axis.
 3. A rotary pump as set forth in claim 2 wherein the other portion of the cooperating means is a roller assembly engaged with and arranged to roll on the cam face.
 4. A rotary pump as set forth in claim 3 wherein the roller assembly is mounted on the impeller for rotation therewith, and the cam face is stationary and on the housing.
 5. A rotary pump as set forth in claim 1 in which one of the surfaces between the chamber and impeller has a groove therein to allow the fluid being pumped to lubricate said surfaces.
 6. A rotary pump as set forth in claim 1 in which the chamber has a rear portion rearwardly of the rotor body, and the impeller has at least two passageways therethrough communicating the rear portion of the chamber with the front of the impeller.
 7. A rotary pump as set forth in claim 6 including a primming inlet communicating with the rear portion of the chamber and through which the pump is primed.
 8. A rotary pump as set forth in claim 7 wherein one portion of the cooperating means is a flat cam face inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to the drive shaft axis, and the other portion of the cooperating means is a roller assembly engaged with the arranged to roll on the cam face; wherein the rotor body and impeller have complementary semi-spherically shaped surfaces; and wherein one of the surfaces between the chamber and impeller has a groove therein to allow fluid being pumped to lubricate said surfaces.
 9. A pump comprising a housing having inlet and outlet ports and a chamber theRein; a rotatable rotor plate at the front end of the chamber and having ports for alternately communicating with the inlet and outlet ports in the housing; a drive shaft coaxial with the rotor plate and having a driving connection therewith; an impeller member of segmental shape having converging flat faces on opposite sides of a diametrical line which intersects the axis of the drive shaft; means at said diametrical line to provide a driving connection between said members and to seal the interface therebetween; means on the side of said impeller opposite from the driving connection to cause the impeller to oscillate as it is rotated thereby moving the front face alternately toward and away from the rotor plate to provide a pumping action; said opposite side of the impeller having a generally semi-spherical shape over at least a portion of its surface; means providing a complementary semi-spherical surface in the chamber and comprising a rotor body having a driving connection to the rotor plate; the chamber having a rear portion rearwardly of the rotor body; and the impeller having at least two passageways therethrough communicating the rear portion of the chamber with the front of the impeller.
 10. The combination of claim 9 in which the semi-spherical surface of the impeller has a groove therein to allow the fluid being pumped to lubricate said complementary surfaces.
 11. The combination of claim 10 in which the means to cause the impeller to oscillate includes a cam.
 12. The combination of claim 11 in which the means to cause the impeller to oscillate also includes a roller engaged with the cam.
 13. In a rotary expansible chamber device of the type having a housing and a rotating working member in the housing which both rotates and oscillates, and the housing having inlet and outlet ports, the improvement comprising: a ported rotor plate between the working member and housing and against which the working member oscillates; means providing a driving connection between the working member and rotor plate so that both rotate simultaneously; a drive shaft connected to the rotor plate to rotate the same and communicate the rotor plate ports alternately with the inlet and outlet ports in the housing; and means in the housing at the side of the working member opposite the rotor plate to effect said oscillating movement of the working member as it is rotated and including one portion on the housing and another portion on the working member, one of the portions comprising a flat cam face inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to the drive shaft axis, and the other portion comprising a roller engaged with and arranged to roll on the cam face.
 14. In a rotary expansible chamber device of the type including a housing having inlet and outlet ports and a chamber therein, and a rotating working member in the chamber which both rotates and oscillates; characterized by the working member having a semi-spherical surface; the housing having an inner surface complementary to the semi-spherical surface of the working member; the housing chamber providing an expansible portion at one side of the working member and another portion at the opposite side thereof; and the working member having a relatively small passageway therethrough and interconnecting said two chamber portions to provide a restricted flow between the two chamber portions.
 15. Apparatus according to claim 14 in which one of the semi-spherical surfaces has a groove therein to allow the fluid in the chamber to reach the interface between the working member and the housing.
 16. A rotary pump comprising a housing having inlet and outlet ports and a chamber having an inner surface at least a portion of which has an arcuate cross-sectional shape; a drive shaft extending out of the housing; a rotor plate fixed to the drive shaft for rotation therewith and having ports which alternately communicate with the inlet and outlet ports in the housing; an impeller in said chamber and having a rear side which is shaped complementary to the arcuate surface of the chamber; said impeller having a front side adjacent the rotor plate and having a driving connection therewith; said front side of the impeller having two faces which diverge away from the driving connection; cooperating means at the rear of the impeller to effect an oscillating movement of the impeller as it is rotated thereby moving said faces alternately toward and away from the rotor plate to provide a pumping action; a portion of said cooperating means being on the impeller and another portion being on the housing; one of said portions being a flat cam face which is inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to the drive shaft axis; and the other of said portions being a roller assembly engaged with and arranged to roll on the cam face.
 17. A rotary pump as set forth in claim 1 wherein the roller assembly is mounted on the impeller for rotation therewtih, and the cam face is stationary and on the housing. 